You are here

Hasselbeck to start third straight vs. Bills

NASHVILLE — Tennessee quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will start his third straight game when the Titans visit Buffalo on Sunday, and injured Jake Locker could be healthy enough to return in a week.

Doctors checked Locker’s left, non-throwing shoulder again Monday.

Coach Mike Munchak said he didn’t have the results, but that the quarterback is healing.

“I wouldn’t think he’d play this week,” Munchak said. “He’s doing better, much better than he was last week at this time. He’ll probably start doing more activity this week. But again, we’ll just have to wait and see how he does the next couple days, how fast he comes along. I would imagine it would take him another week.”

Locker first hurt his shoulder in the season opener against New England, and he dislocated the shoulder Sept. 30 in a loss at Houston. Munchak said they are lucky enough to have Hasselbeck available to start and allow Locker to heal without rushing him back.

Hasselbeck led the Titans (2-4) to 10 points in the final 4:19 last week to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 26-23. That doesn’t mean there is a quarterback controversy in Tennessee.

“If he was healthy enough to suit up, we’d feel he’s healthy enough to play,” Munchak said of Locker.

The Titans worked out for an hour Monday after a weekend off following their much-needed win.

Locker wasn’t available in the locker room after the session, and Hasselbeck only talks once a week when starting. Munchak said Locker wanted to play against Pittsburgh and the Bills (3-3).

“But he physically can’t, so he’s all in now for Matt to do well because he knows if Matt does well, the team does well and then hopefully at some point Jake will be coming back and leading this thing and obviously we want to be in the playoff hunt,” Munchak said. “It’s going to take a group effort to get that done.”

Before the Titans can even think about being in the hunt for a playoff spot, they have more immediate concerns of trying to win consecutive games for the first time this season.

They last won consecutive games at the end of last season against Jacksonville and at Houston to finish with the franchise’s first winning record since 2008 at 9-7.

Munchak said they now have a chance to do something at 2-4.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us believe me,” Munchak said. “There’s no reason we can’t put some wins together. If you do that, then you work yourself back into it and that’s the good thing is that there’s still a chance to work yourself back into it if you can win four, five games in a row, which is a big if. We haven’t done that yet. We haven’t won two in a row yet.”

The Titans still have given up more points (204) than any other NFL team. The running game is mired in last place, even though Chris Johnson has run well in two of his past three games. He had his best performance ever against Pittsburgh, running for 91 yards.

Still, they feel revived after the much-needed win and the chance to rest over the weekend.

Receiver Nate Washington said every offensive player knows they cannot be complacent, not after the plays they didn’t make against Pittsburgh. He also sees mistakes that still must be corrected.

“We can’t overlook it as just another weekend off for a little time to sit at home,” Washington said. “We have to take advantage of this to get our bodies back and make sure our minds are where they’re supposed to be.”

Tight end Jared Cook, who spent much of the weekend sleeping, said the Titans must remember how much it hurts to lose compared to the great feeling when they win to keep that winning spirit. He also agrees with Washington that the offense executed much better against Pittsburgh.

“It’s just a matter of keeping a push and keeping it moving and making sure we all stay on the same page and continue to execute because when we execute, there’s nobody I feel like can stop us,” Cook said.

Notes: Tommie Campbell will miss the Buffalo game. Munchak said Campbell, who hurt his left ankle covering a punt return, remained in a walking boot Monday. … DT Jurrell Casey (shoulder) is expected to practice Wednesday, though he could be limited. … LB Colin McCarthy (right ankle) also is expected to practice Wednesday after playing every defensive snap for the first time this season against Pittsburgh. … Rookie S Markelle Martin (right knee) will practice Wednesday, starting a three-week window for the Titans to decide whether or not to active the sixth-round draft pick from Oklahoma State off the physically-unable-to-perform list.

Lewis, Webb among several players out for season: Another week, another NFL star out for the season with an injury.

Ray Lewis, the 13-time All-Pro anchor of the Ravens’ rugged defense, tore the triceps muscle in his right arm during Baltimore’s 31-29 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.

The 37-year-old Lewis wasn’t the only Raven injured during the game. Fourth-year cornerback Ladarius Webb is gone for the year with a torn knee ligament, and defensive lineman Haloti Ngata injured a knee, but could return next week.

Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis was lost for the season with a torn ACL in his left knee. Last week, Texans linebacker and team leader Brian Cushing was lost for the season with a torn left knee ligament.

during a win over the Jets.

Even before the season, the Ravens defense lost another standout in AP Defensive Player of the Year Terrell Suggs, who is recovering from a torn right Achilles tendon.___

Rules for posting comments

Comments posted below are from readers. In no way do they represent the view of Stephens Media LLC or this newspaper. This is a public forum.

Comments may be monitored for inappropriate content but the newspaper is under no obligation to do so. Comment posters are solely responsible under the Communications Decency Act for comments posted on this Web site. Stephens Media LLC is not liable for messages from third parties.

IP and email addresses of persons who post are not treated as confidential records and will be disclosed in response to valid legal process.

Do not post:

Potentially libelous statements or damaging innuendo.

Obscene, explicit, or racist language.

Copyrighted materials of any sort without the express permission of the copyright holder.

Personal attacks, insults or threats.

The use of another person's real name to disguise your identity.

Comments unrelated to the story.

If you believe that a commenter has not followed these guidelines, please click the FLAG icon below the comment.